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Mammalian Bites > Drug Therapy Author: Jeffrey D. Kravetz, MD; Daniel G. Federman, MD
Editorial changes - 2008-01-23
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Rationale:

  • HIV can be isolated from saliva specimens of infected patients.
  • HIV transmission from bite wounds is rare, likely due to the presence of HIV-inhibiting factors and IgA antibodies to HIV in the biter's saliva.
  • Bite wounds where bleeding occurs in the biter's mouth carry a theoretically higher risk of HIV transmission.
  • Hepatitis B is 100 times more infective than HIV and can be transmitted by bite wounds if bleeding occurs in both the biter and victim's mouth.
  • Immediate treatment with HBIG in patients bitten by individuals with detectable HBsAg can lower risk of transmission.

Evidence:

  • Only a few case reports of possible HIV transmission from bite wounds have been published, with only one definitive association (63).
  • HIV was isolated in 21% of saliva specimens in one study (64).
  • HBV has been implicated in human bite wound infection (65; 66).
  • Transmission of HCV has been documented in a few case reports of human bite wounds (67,68).

Comments:

  • None.
FAQs
Daniel G. Federman, MD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Jeffrey D. Kravetz, MD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations.
Steven E. Weinberger, MD, FACP, Acting Editor, PIER, has stock holdings in Glaxosmithkline and Abbott.

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